Small Business: Get an answer from an expert you can trust

Good advice is vital to keep a business on track but it’s essential to know who to ask

IN the fledgling years of his business, consultants were not Donal Kelly’s favourite people. The managing director of Donegal-based Seamless Aluminium found that trusting consultants without vetting their credentials was costly.

“We suffered in the early days,” said Kelly. “In the 1980s, we had people coming in here advising us on things like tax and grants. We were at their mercy and ended up with our hands in the dog’s mouth. When the dog closed his mouth, he took the fingers.”

On one occasion, a consultant drew grant money awarded to Kelly’s firm but never passed it on. “We had to put it down to experience. When looking for a consultant, it is worthwhile to make a few calls, to get references and to talk to people for whom they have worked. In the long run, it can save you a lot of money.”